2008 Metzeler Touring the Alps Photos

January 5, 2009

We survived our epic two-day 300-plus mile motorcycle journey despite, at times, treacherous stretches of road, and rain. A journey we won’t be forgetting any time soon..

The Fiat Lingotto automobile factory was once the largest auto manufacturing facility in Europe complete with a test track on the roof. It has since been closed and a wing renovated into the Hotel Le Meridien Lingotto in which we stayed.

No lies, this was the view outside of our room at the Steigenberger Hotel Gstaad-Saanen.

Ristorante Bivouac Napolean is another great place to take break as you head towards Gstaad, Switzerland.

2008 Metzeler Touring the Alps

2008 Metzeler Touring the Alps

2008 Metzeler Touring the Alps

2008 Metzeler Touring the Alps

Yamaha's XT660Z Ténéré is at home on or off-road.

2008 Metzeler Touring the Alps

Just about everything in Europe has some sort of storied past, but Little St. Bernard Pass is perhaps one of the most history-rich along our route.

2008 Metzeler Touring the Alps

Steigenberger Hotel Gstaad-Saanen
Nestled deep inside a valley, the Steigenberger Hotel is a popular resort choice for Europeans looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Given that it’s a popular destination for travelers around the world, employees speak English and cater to the service-oriented visitor.

2008 Metzeler Touring the Alps

2008 Metzeler Touring the Alps.

2008 Metzeler Touring the Alps

2008 Metzeler Touring the Alps

2008 Metzeler Touring the Alps

2008 Metzeler Touring the Alps

Exquisitely kept small mountain towns are sprinkled all along the D902 roadway which heads northeast towards Italy. These picturesque locales provide plenty of opportunities for fueling both machine and rider.

Lake Lucerne greeted us to our left as we near our destination in Luzern, Switzerland.

2008 Metzeler Touring the Alps

2008 Metzeler Touring the Alps

The 2008 Metzeler Experts on the Road crew stop for a group photo at Sustenpass.

(From right to left) Jun [TK], our guide Joan Marti Utset, myself, and Metzeler's Kevin Allen at the end of the line in Luzern, Switzerland.

We spent the last night in Zurich, Switzerland before flying back home to the U.S.

2008 Metzeler Touring the Alps

Yamaha's XT660Z Ténéré is that much better with Metzeler's Tourance rubber.

2008 Metzeler Touring the Alps

2008 Metzeler Touring the Alps

Parts of the road we tackled, were about as tight as a road can get without being classified a sidewalk.

the Alps has the finest, most well kept roads we've ever experienced period.

2008 Metzeler Touring the Alps

After a few shots of espresso, our Metzeler Experts on the Road crew standstill long enough for a photo outside Ristorante Le Savoye enroute through France's Vanoise National Park.

Looking for the best Italian food in the world? Then make sure to check out Ristorante Lo Riondet.

Smashing bugs with the 2008 Metzeler Experts on the Road crew.

2008 Metzeler Touring the Alps

The mild Indian summer weather meant we'd be sharing the road with all types of cyclists both motorized and non. Not a problem as the roads through the Alps are all wide-open and well marked.

Ski resorts lined our route through the Alps and made us wonder how much better this trip would have been in the winter?

Icy-white glaciers and crystal clear lakes surround you near Sustenpass. The scenery during this leg of our journey was simply gorgeous.

This is the view outside of my hotel room at the Steinberger Hotel in Gstaad, Switzerland. Note the airport runway in the background. Gstaad is a popular destination for euro elite looking to escape the daily grind.

Metzeler's Roadtec Z6 Interact tires just beg for more lean.

One of the greatest attributes of Metzeler's Roadtec Z6 Interact tire is how versatile it is.